Qing Pi (Green Citrus Peel) (Long oval lanceolate lobes, greenish-yellow, fragrant, bitter, pungent, and sour)

Si Hua Qing Pi (Four-Petal Green Citrus Peel) (Four lobes, blackish-green outside, yellowish-white inside)

Ge Qing Pi (Whole Green Citrus Peel) (Ge Qing type, relatively rough sphere, grayish-green or blackish-green surface, sparse)

Ge Qing Pi (Whole Green Citrus Peel) Pieces

【Naming】

Qing Pi (Green Citrus Peel)

 【Source】

Superior Grade of Materia Medica‧Ju (Citrus)

 【Common Usage Level】

B

 【Botanical Origin】

Dried, unripe fruit peel or young fruit of *Citrus reticulata* Blanco and related species of the same genus in the Rutaceae family.

 【Characteristics】

(1) Si Hua Qing Pi (Four-Petal Green Citrus Peel): The fruit peel is peeled into four lobes. Most of the lobes are long and elliptical-lanceolate, 2.5~5㎝ long, 1.5~2.5㎝ wide. The yellowish-white edges are mostly curled inward. The peel is thin, the outer skin is blackish-green or greenish-green, with wrinkles. The inner surface is yellowish-white, with vascular patterns. The cross-section edge has oil dots. It has a clear fragrance, and a bitter and pungent taste.
Processed pieces: They are long elliptical-lanceolate lobes, about 3~4㎝ long, about 0.5~1㎝ wide, with the remaining characteristics the same as the lobes mentioned above. Vinegar-Qing Pi (Green Citrus Peel): Slightly sour.
(2) Ge Qing Pi (Whole Green Citrus Peel): It is spherical, 0.5~2.5㎝ in diameter. Those smaller than 1㎝ are called “Qing Pi Zi (Green Citrus Peel Seeds)“. The surface is dark gray or blackish-green, with fine wrinkles and small nodular protrusions. There is a fruit stalk scar at the base. Scratching it with your fingernail will reveal oil traces. The texture is firm and hard. After breaking it open, the cross-section shows the peel is 1.5~3㎜ thick, pale yellow or yellowish-white, with wet oil dots in the outer layer and pulp inside. It has a clear fragrance and a bitter and pungent taste.
Processed pieces: They are approximately circular pieces, about 1.5㎜ thick, with a brownish-yellow or brownish-black surface and pulp inside. It has a clear fragrance and a bitter and pungent taste.

 【Processing】

1. Used raw, sliced. 2. Vinegar-Qing Pi (Green Citrus Peel)

 【Identification】

“*Ren Shu Bian Lan*” (Simple Guide to Benevolent Arts): “Qing Pi (Green Citrus Peel), the four-petal, round, and tight ones are good.”
“*Yao Jian*” (Mirror of Materia Medica): “Stir-frying with vinegar is best.”
Good quality is identified by a bluish-black peel color, white inner surface, thick flesh, firm and oily texture, and strong fragrance.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Si Hua Qing Pi (Four-Petal Green Citrus Peel): Refers to the fruit peel of young oranges cut into four petals with the center connected.

 【Category】

Fruits